I would like to introduce my guest blogger for this week. His name is Sam Crabtree, Pastor for Small Groups at Bethlehem Baptist Church (http://www.hopeingod.org/news-events/bethlehem-blogs) It is a touching article of a young couple in our church who had lost their baby, whereupon the husband anonymously wrote these beautiful words of insight in the midst of grief - grief, yet not without the hope for joy:
"From within the cloud of grief, it can be difficult to see how God feels about your suffering. Unfortunately, the temptation can be to imagine that he either doesn't care or, even worse, is actually enjoying it.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a story of hope wrapped in tragedy. If you read the story without grieving, you ave not read it carefully. Jesus dies. One cannot imagine a worse outcome for the hero than death, especially when He needs to live in order to accomplish the mission. Thankfully, Jesus' death is not the end of the gospel story.
One day soon the wrapping paper of sorrow will be torn off and thrown away and the gift of joy will be forever ours in full. For now, songs of joy and sorrow play simultaneously, neither canceling the other ... yet. In the dissonance of these songs, let us remember that the dirge of sorrow has only a few measures remaining, whereas the symphony of joy will crescendo forever."
I love that the dirge of sorrow has only a few measures remaining, and the symphony of joy will crescendo forever. When times of grief and sorrow do overtake you, I hope you are encouraged to know a the symphony of joy will follow.
Rita Kroon
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